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   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.






2017 Team Previews 

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Murphy Panthers

Head Coach: Muskingum Barnes (first season)
Stadium: Ladd-Peebles Stadium
Career Record: 0 seasons, (0-0)
At Murphy: First season
2017 Enrollment:  1,573
Rank:  7th in the AHSAA, 7th in Class 7A

 History 
Overall Record:   560-348-27   (62.0%)
Last 25 years:   170-109   (61.0%)  (Rank: 82nd in the AHSAA, 12th in Class 7A)
Since 2010:   46-31  (60.0%)  (Rank: 115th in the AHSAA, 13th in Class 7A)
Last Playoff Appearance:   2016
Last Region Championship:   2008
Last Winning Season:   2016
Last Losing Season:   2003

 2016 
Class:  7A              Region:   1
Record:  6-5
Region Record:   4-4, (fourth)
Playoff Record:   First round loss to Central Phenix City by a score of 56-7.
Final ASWA Poll:   Not Ranked
Scoring:  244 (22.2)
Defense:  304 (27.6)

College Signees lost to Graduation
      Eric Archie,   OL  [Jacksonville St.]
      Neil Farrell,   DL  [LSU]
      Kendric Haynes,   LB  [South Alabama]

 2017 
Class: 7A              Region:   1
Strength of Schedule: 58-51 (53%) (109th in the AHSAA, 21st in Class 7A)
Region Strength:  44-42 (51%)
Non-Region Strength:  14-9 (61%)

D1 Prospects
      Anthony Lewis,  6-4,  215,  TE
      Jaylon Smith,  5-11,  175,  WR
      Maurice Robinson,  6-1,  175,  ATH


 2016 Results 
 8/18   OPEN 
 8/26  @ Alma Bryant  (7A)  *  55-14   W  
 9/2  vs. McGill-Toolen  (7A)  *  0-43   L  
 9/9  @ Mary Montgomery  (7A)  *  17-27   L  
 9/16  @ Baker  (7A)  *  29-32   L  
 9/23  @ Saraland  (6A)   28-21   W  
 9/29  vs. Foley  (7A)  *  21-20   W  
 10/7  vs. Theodore  (7A)  *  21-14   W  
 10/14  @ Fairhope  (7A)  *  24-22   W  
 10/21  vs. Davidson  (7A)  *  14-41   L  
 10/27  vs. Vigor  (5A)   28-14   W  
 Playoffs 
 11/4  @ Central Phenix City    7-56   L  

 2017 Schedule 
 8/24  @ Baker  (7A)  *      
 8/31  vs. Alma Bryant  (7A)  *      
 9/8  @ McGill-Toolen  (7A)  *      
 9/14  vs. Mary Montgomery  (7A)  *      
 9/22   OPEN 
 9/29  vs. Saraland  (6A)       
 10/6  @ Foley  (7A)  *      
 10/13  @ Theodore  (7A)  *      
 10/19  vs. Fairhope  (7A)  *      
 10/27  @ Davidson  (7A)  *      
 11/2  @ Vigor  (5A)       


Class  7A Region  1
Team 2016 Record Scoring                            
Alma Bryant (7A) 1-995-362
Baker (7A) 6-5297-316
Davidson (7A) 9-2400-218
Fairhope (7A) 2-8154-268
Foley (7A) 3-7168-267
Mary Montgomery (7A) 5-5211-264
McGill-Toolen (7A) 13-1531-177
Murphy (7A) 6-5244-304
Theodore (7A) 5-5231-238

 2017 Preview 


       Murphy completed the 2016 season with a 6-5 record. With their 4-4 region record and a fourth place finish in Class 7A region one, the Panthers earned a spot in the playoffs in 2016. Murphy's season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs when they fell to Central Phenix City by a score of 56-7.

       Since 2010, Murphy has gone a combined 46-31. Their 60.0% winning percentage ranks 13th in Class 7A over the past seven seasons.

       Over the past 25 seasons, Murphy has managed to compile a record of 170-109. Their 61.0% winning percentage ranks 12th in Class 7A and 82nd in the AHSAA. Their last losing season was 2003.

Rick Cauley leaves Murphy for Gulf Shores after three seasons and a 20-13 record. Each of his teams reached the playoffs but none managed to win a game in the post season.


Muskingum Barnes, an assistant on the Panther staff the past three seasons, will lead Murphy into the 2017 football season.

Barnes was born in Biloxi, MS, and graduated from Moss Point High in 1997. He played at LSU from 1997 to 2002 and briefly in the NFL before pursuing other careers.



       The Murphy Panthers will play in Class 7A region one during the 2017 season.

       The Panthers should be in contention for a playoff spot in region one this season. They will be looking to gain an advantage by hosting a first round postseason game.

      Maurice Robinson returns for his Senior season after completing 78 of 162 passes for 980 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also rushed for 936 yards and another 12 scores.

      Senior Michael Jefferson returns after catching 17 passes for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns.

       The Panthers open the 2017 season on the road against region opponent Baker on Thursday, August 24 at Hornet Field. Last year the Baker Hornets finished with an overall record of 6-5 and in third place in Class 7A region one. The Hornets lost in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs to Enterprise by a score of 51-14.

       Murphy and Baker have met a total of 31 times on the football field. The Panthers have a 23-8-0 record against the Hornets. They last met in 2016 with Baker winning by a score of 32-29.

       College prospects include: Anthony Lewis (6-4, 215) tight end, Jaylon Smith (5-11, 175) receiver, Maurice Robinson (6-1, 175) athlete,

  


Great Moments in Alabama High School Football History

Marion County defeated Meek 83-6 in a playoff game in 2012. It is the most points scored by a team in a playoff game.